…with this lively, accessible mix of traditional and contemporary poly-rhythmic styles. With Lara’s unique understanding of Afro-fusion sounds, basic steps and choreography are designed to inspire. The simplicity of the format invites each dancer to cultivate their own joyful, personal experience inside roots oriented group movement.
Customized daily for mixed levels, this class deepens movement skills, cultivates strength, ease and nuance, while tuning awareness with some of the best music the world has to offer.

“Imagine an ethnomusicologist combined with a finger-on-the-pulse choreographer who believes that in everyone exists the joy of dancing. Mali meets Paris meets Rio and the streets of America in a one-hour class. As you’re seduced by her widely tossed net, Lara carefully makes you aware of your own body’s structure and capacity for movement. In words and actions, she teaches what is true and perhaps invisible to you as the music she weaves compels you to move. She’s a consummate teacher, decades into her musical/choreographic work and she really knows her stuff.”
—Mary Ann Peters, artist

“Wassa Dance is an experience in connecting ancient rhythms to the soul body in motion. It all starts from the ground up. Lara has a way of teaching you how to move with insight, clarity and exuberance. I noticed ways of moving and details of the dance I had never thought of before. Lara has a strong ability to bring your attention to the subtleties of African dance without losing the passion and joy of expression. She has a warrior’s heart, a dancer’s grace and she can get you shaking your booty in no time flat!”
– Kerry Jo Finney: teacher, counselor, dancer, dreamer